Material processing head and tool

ABSTRACT

A material processing tool assembly includes a tool for material processing having a base section and a processing section extending from the base section; and a tool mounting block mountable on an outer surface of a support base. The mounting block has a base surface and a tool mounting surface intersecting the base surface. The base surface has a protuberance extending away therefrom and spaced apart from the tool mounting surface to define a tool receiving gap between the protuberance and the tool mounting surface. The base section of the tool is snugly received in the tool receiving gap between the tool mounting surface and the protuberance in abutment with the tool mounting surface, the processing section of the tool extending past the protuberance. A displaceable material processing head and method of mounting a material processing tool to a mounting block secured to a displaceable head are also discussed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The application relates generally to devices used for materialprocessing operations and, more particularly, to a displaceable materialprocessing head.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Cutting heads used in brush cutters are known. The cutting teeth onbrush cutters are often designed and mounted on the mounting blocks onthe cutting head to cut in a tangential direction when the cylindricalcutting head is rotated. The cutting teeth are thus exposed to shearforces, which can cause the teeth to prematurely wear, or break off thecutting head. Teeth can be costly to replace when broken or damaged.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, there is provided a displaceable material processinghead, comprising: a support base; a plurality of tool mounting blocksmounted on an outer surface of the support base, each mounting blockhaving a base surface and a tool mounting surface intersecting the basesurface, the base surface having a protuberance extending away therefromand spaced apart from the tool mounting surface to define a toolreceiving gap between the protuberance and the tool mounting surface;and a plurality of tools for material processing each retained in arespective one of the mounting blocks, each tool having a base sectionand a processing section extending from the base section, the basesection being snugly received in the tool receiving gap of therespective one of the mounting blocks between the tool mounting surfaceand the protuberance and abutting the tool mounting surface, theprocessing section extending past the protuberance.

In another aspect, there is provided a method of mounting a materialprocessing tool to a mounting block secured to a displaceable head, themethod comprising: fitting snugly the tool on the mounting block betweena mounting surface of the mounting block and protuberance of themounting block spaced apart from the mounting surface; and securing thetool to the mounting block.

In yet another aspect, there is provided a material processing toolassembly, comprising: a tool for material processing having a basesection and a processing section extending from the base section; and atool mounting block mountable on an outer surface of a support base, themounting block having a base surface and a tool mounting surfaceintersecting the base surface, the base surface having a protuberanceextending away therefrom and spaced apart from the tool mounting surfaceto define a tool receiving gap between the protuberance and the toolmounting surface, the base section of the tool being snugly received inthe tool receiving gap between the tool mounting surface and theprotuberance in abutment with the tool mounting surface, the processingsection of the tool extending past the protuberance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic tridimensional view of a material processing headhaving mounting blocks and material processing tools, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of the head as shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a schematic side tridimensional view of one of the mountingblocks of the head of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is a schematic front tridimensional view of the mounting blockof FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a schematic rear tridimensional view of the mounting block ofFIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a schematic front tridimensional view of one of the tools ofthe head of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3B is a schematic rear tridimensional view of the tool of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a schematic side view of the tool of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a schematic tridimensional view of the mounting block ofFIGS. 2A-2C with the tool of FIGS. 3A-3C secured thereto;

FIG. 4B is a schematic side view of the mounting block and tool of FIG.4A;

FIG. 5A is a schematic tridimensional view of a mounting block with atool secured thereto, according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional side view of the mounting block and tool ofFIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a schematic tridimensional view of a mounting block with atool secured thereto, according to yet another embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic tridimensional view of a mounting block with atool secured thereto, according to yet another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a displaceable material processing head 10.The material processing head 10 is powered by a suitable drive mechanismso that it can be put into motion. The motion of the head 10, and thematerial processing tools secured to the head 10 and discussed below,can effect an operation whereby material is processed. It can thus beappreciated that the head 10 can be any suitable tool head or devicecapable of such functionality. For example, and as shown in theillustrated embodiment, the head 10 is in the form of a rotatable brushcutting head for use with a brush cutter. The head 10, and the materialprocessing operation carried out thereby, is not limited to cutting. Thematerial processing operation can also include crushing, grinding,pulverising, shredding, scraping, pounding, removing, mulching, cutting,chipping, planing, or other similar manipulations of material usingcompaction, friction or shear. Similarly, the head 10 can undergodisplacements and motion other than rotational displacements.

In the present specification, including claims, it is understood thatthe terms “front” and “rear” and related terms are used in relation to anormal direction of displacement of the material processing tools forease of understanding, and are not intended to be limiting.

The head 10 has a support base 11. The support base 11 forms the corpusof the head 10 and provides structure thereto. The support base 11 isdisplaceable, such that it can be set in motion so that the head 10 caneffect the above-described material processing operations. The supportbase 11 has an outer surface. In the embodiment shown, the support base11 is a cylindrical drum, and thus has a cylindrical outer surface 12.Other configurations for the support base 11 are within the scope of thepresent disclosure, and are largely dependent on the material processingoperation carried out by the head 10. A plurality of tool mountingblocks 20 are removably or fixedly fastened to the outer surface 12 ofthe support base 11. The mounting blocks 20 extend outwardly from theouter surface 12, and in this embodiment, extend outwardly in a radialor substantially radial direction. Each mounting block 20 carries amaterial processing tool 30 which extends outwardly from the supportbase 11 for performing the material processing operations.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the mounting blocks 20 are mountedin two diametrically opposite rows. The mounting blocks 20 in each rowcan be equally spaced apart, and the mounting blocks 20 in one row canalternate with the mounting blocks 20 in another row in a directionparallel to a longitudinal axis 13 of the support base 11. Each mountingblock 20 has a bottom or inner surface 21 shaped to match the shape of aportion of the outer surface 12. In the embodiment shown, the innersurface 21 is concavely curved and shaped like an arc of circle to matchthe circumferential outer surface 12 of the support base 11. Eachmounting block 20 is secured, by welding or other suitable techniques,with its inner surface 21 flush against the outer surface 12 of thesupport base 11.

Referring to FIGS. 2A to 2C, the mounting block 20 has a tool mountingsurface 22 and a base surface 23 against which a portion of acorresponding tool is mounted. The tool mounting surface 22 extendstransversely to the outer surface of the support base. The tool mountingsurface 22 intersects, and extends from, the base surface 23. The basesurface 23 is shaped and positioned to receive a lower portion of thetool thereon. The base surface 23 forms, with the tool mounting surface22, an interior corner 24 against which the tool is secured. The toolmounting surface 22 is oriented radially with respect to the supportbase 11. In the embodiment shown, the tool mounting surface is parallelto, and offset rearwardly from, a radial line RL (see FIG. 1) of thesupport base and of the inner surface 21 of the mounting block 20intersecting the tip of the tool 30; it is understood that “orientedradially” is also intended to include the tool mounting surface 22extending along the radial line RL, or at a slight angle with respectthereto (for example ±5°). The base surface 23 extends transversely fromthe tool mounting surface 22 and tangentially (i.e. perpendicular to theradial line RL, or at a slight angle from that perpendicular) to theouter surface of the support base and of the inner surface 21 of themounting block 20. In the embodiment shown, the base surface 23 and thetool mounting surface 22 form a right angle at the interior corner 24;other configurations are also possible. A block mounting aperture 25 isdefined in the tool mounting surface 22, and it extends through themounting block 20 from the tool mounting surface 22, for aligning with abase section of the tool, as will be described.

Referring back to FIGS. 2A to 2C, in the embodiment shown, the toolmounting surface 22 has a profile or shape that is complementary to thatof a surface of the tool that is configured to be placed against thetool mounting surface 22, as explained in greater detail below. In theembodiment shown, the tool mounting surface 22 is concave. The toolmounting surface 22 shown has a concave, V-shaped profile orcross-section. It is understood that alternately, the tool mountingsurface 22 may have any other appropriate shape, including but notlimited to, suitable curved, angled, concave, convex, and planar shapes.

Each mounting block 20 also has a protuberance 26 extending from thebase surface 23. The protuberance 26 is a bump or protrusion which ispositioned on the base surface 23, and spaced from the tool mountingsurface 22. The protuberance 26 may be integrally formed with the basesurface 23 during the manufacture of the mounting block 20.Alternatively, the protuberance 26 can be separate from the mountingblock 20 and attached to the base surface 23. The protuberance 26 can beremoved and replaced in such a configuration, which may be desired whenthe protuberance 26 becomes worn from use. A tool receiving gap 27 isformed in the distance between the protuberance 26 and the tool mountingsurface 22. The tool receiving gap 27 is positioned, shaped, and sizedto receive therein a base section of the tool, as will be discussed ingreater detail below. More particularly, the protuberance 26 has a rearsurface 26A which faces toward the tool mounting surface 22 and which isspaced apart therefrom across the tool receiving gap 27. A front surface26F of the protuberance 26 is spaced apart forwardly from the rearsurface 26A. The shape of the rear surface 26A can be complementary withthe shape of the tool mounting surface 22. Referring to FIGS. 2A to 2C,the rear surface 26A extends between opposed lateral sides 26L of theprotuberance 26. The rear surface 26A has a recessed portion 26ARpositioned between the lateral sides 26L. The rear surface 26A is convexin FIGS. 2A to 2C, and the recessed portion 26AR is spaced furtherrearward from the front surface 26F of the protuberance 26 than thelateral sides 26L.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A to 3C, each material processing tool 30 iscarried by a distinct mounting block 20. The material processing tool 30has a base section 31 and a processing section 32 extending away fromthe base section 31. The base section 31 is removably secured to thecorresponding mounting block 20, and the processing section 32 effectsthe material processing operation. The processing section 32 is angledforwardly with respect to the longitudinal direction L of the basesection 31.

A rear surface 31A of the base section 31 is abuttable against the toolmounting surface 22 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). An opposed front surface 31Bof the base section 31 faces toward the protuberance 26 (see FIGS. 4Aand 4B) and is abuttable thereagainst. In the embodiment shown, the tool30 is a cutting blade or tooth. In this embodiment, the base section 31is defined by a member of uniform or substantially uniform thicknessstraight along its longitudinal direction L and having a curved orangled cross-section (e.g. V-shaped) in a plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction L. The processing section 32 is defined as acutting section, and a front portion of the cutting section 32 istapered to provide a cutting edge 32A. The cutting section 32 is angledforwardly with respect to the longitudinal direction L of the basesection 31. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the cutting section 32 includes afront surface 35A which extends at the cutting edge 32A at a first angleθ1 with respect to the radial line RL intersecting the cutting edge 32A.In a particular embodiment, the first angle θ1 has a value of about 45°,for example 45°±5°. Other values are of course possible. In theembodiment shown, a cutting circumference C is defined by the travel ofthe cutting edge 32A as the cutting head rotates; a rear surface 35B ofthe cutting section 32 extends at the cutting edge 32A at a second angleθ2 with respect to a tangent to the cutting circumference C at thecutting edge 32A (i.e. at the intersection of the cutting circumferenceC with the radial line RL). In a particular embodiment, the cutting edge32A is the radially outermost point of the tool 30, and the second angleθ2 has a value of about 8° inwardly of the tangent, for example 8°±5°.Other values are of course possible.

Referring back to FIGS. 3A to 3C, a tool mounting aperture 33 extendsthrough the base section 31 of the tool 30 between its rear and frontsurfaces 31A,31B. The tool mounting aperture 33 is located to be alignedwith the block mounting aperture 25 (see FIGS. 2A-2C) in the mountingblock 20 when the tool 30 is mounted on the mounting block 20.

In the embodiment shown, the rear surface 31A of the tool 30 has aprofile or shape complementary to the shape of the tool mounting surface22 against which the rear surface 31A is abuttable. In the embodimentshown, the rear surface 31A is convex, and thus suitable for matingengagement with the concave tool mounting surface 22 described above.The rear surface 31A shown has a concave, V-shaped profile complementaryto V-shaped profile of the tool mounting surface 22 described above. Itwill be appreciated that the tool mounting surface 22 and the rearsurface 31A can have complementary shapes that are opposite than thosedescribed herein. For example, the tool mounting surface 22 can beconvex while the rear surface 31A has a complementary concave shape. Itis also understood that the rear surface 31A may have any otherappropriate shape, including but not limited to, suitable curved,angled, concave, convex, and planar shapes. The front surface 31B of thebase section 31 may also have any suitable shape.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a material processing tool assembly 50is shown. The assembly 50 includes the tool 30 shown mounted and securedto the mounting block 20. A method of mounting the tool 30 to themounting block 20, which is itself secured to the displaceable head 10,is now described. A bottom portion of the base section 31 of the tool 30is placed in the interior corner 24. More particularly, a bottom surfaceof the base section 31 is placed against the base surface 23, while therear surface 31A of the base section 31 is abutted against the toolmounting surface 22.

The rear surface 31A and the tool mounting surface 22 form a matingengagement because of their complementary shapes. In the embodimentshown, the concave tool mounting surface 22 mates with the convex rearsurface 31A. This complementarity helps to provide a better engagementbetween the mounting block 20 and the tool 30. Positioning the tool 30in this configuration aligns the block and tool mounting apertures25,33. When so aligned, a bolt 34 or other suitable mechanical fastenercan be inserted through the block and tool mounting apertures 25,33 tosecure the tool 30 to the mounting block 20. Alternately, more than onefastener may be provided. In a particular embodiment, each fastener isspaced apart from the protuberance 26, so that no direct connectionother than contact is provided between the protuberance 26 and the tool30.

Positioning the tool 30 in this configuration also positions the basesection 31 in the tool receiving gap 27 between the tool mountingsurface 22 and the protuberance 26. More particularly, the base section31 is snugly received or fitted in the tool receiving gap 27 between thetool mounting surface 22 and the protuberance 26. The expression“snugly” refers to the close-fit of the base section 31 between the toolmounting surface 22 and the protuberance 26. Stated differently, thebase section 31 may be in direct engagement with the protuberance 26, orslightly spaced apart therefrom. In a particular embodiment, the frontsurface 31B of the base section 31 abuts the rear surface 26A of theprotuberance 26. In the embodiment shown, the rear surface 26A has ashape which is similar to that of the tool mounting surface 22, andcomplementary to that of the front surface 31B of the tool 30. Theabutment of the “V”-shaped rear surface 31A with the complementaryshaped tool mounting surface 22 contributes to preventing the tool 30from sliding relative to the mounting block 20. The protuberance 26 issized so that the processing section 32 extends beyond the protuberancein order to effect the material processing operation.

When the tool 30 is secured in this position, such that its base section31 abuts against the protuberance 26, the protuberance 26 helps the tool30 to resist shear forces generated when the processing section 32impacts material during the material processing operations describedabove. For example, in the embodiment shown where the tool 30 is acutting tooth with the mounting block 20 mounted to a rotatable drumsupport base in a brush cutter head, as the support base rotates indirection R, the cutting edge 32A of the cutting section 32 impactsbrush to be cleared. The impact of the cutting section 32 with the brushgenerates a shear force and/or moment, which generates a force thatattempts to push the bottom of the base section 31 of the cutting tooth30 away from the tool mounting surface 22. Over repeated uses, this cancause the cutting tooth 30 to rattle against the tool mounting surface22, which may cause premature wear of the cutting edge 32A, and/or mayloosen the attachment of the cutting tooth 30 to the mounting block 20.Furthermore, over repeated uses, this movement of the base section ofthe cutting tooth 30 can cause the bolt 34 to stretch, thereby loosingthe attachment of the cutting tooth 30 to the mounting block 20. When soloosened, a portion of the cutting tooth 30 above the bolt 34 mayundergo deformation after prolonged and repeated exposure to theabove-described shear force.

In a particular embodiment, the protuberance 26 helps to counteract theshear moment acting against the base section 31 when the base section 31of the tool 30 is abutted thereagainst. In so doing, the protuberance 26contributes to reducing premature wear of the tool 30, for example ofthe cutting edge 32A, and reinforces the attachment of the tool 30 tothe mounting block 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, another embodiment of the materialprocessing tool assembly 150 is shown. The assembly 150 includes a tool130 and a mounting block 120 which are similar to the tool 30 andmounting block 20 previously described, with similar elements identifiedby the same reference numerals. The mounting block 120 however differsfrom the mounting block 20 in that it further includes a tongue 140extending from the protuberance 26 into the tool receiving gap 27. Thetongue 140 extends against the base surface 23 of the mounting block 120a distance less than that of the protuberance 26, and is positionedbetween the protuberance 26 and the tool mounting surface 22; thesurface 26 a of the protuberance 26 thus extends from the tongue 140 toabut the tool 130. An exposed surface 142 of the tongue 140 receives abottom surface of the base section 131 of the tool 30 thereon. In theembodiment shown, the base section 131 is larger than the tongue 140,and the bottom portion of the base section 131 includes a recesscomplementary to the tongue 140 so that the base section 131 mates withthe tongue 140 and rests against the base surface 23 on each side of thetongue 140. Other configurations are possible.

In a particular embodiment, the tongue 140, in being positioned betweenthe tool 130 and the base surface 23, helps to absorb impacts againstthe tool 130 which are directed towards the base surface 23, therebyhelping to protect the mounting block 120 from a source of wear. Whenthe tongue 140 becomes worn from use, it can be replaced as needed. Inthe embodiment shown, the tongue 140 is integral with the protuberance26 and forms a monolithic component therewith. It will be appreciatedthat the tongue 140 can also be a separate component from theprotuberance 26.

Although described above as a cutting tooth, the material processingtool 30 can also be any tool that effects a material processingoperation. For example, and as shown in FIG. 6, where the materialprocessing operation involves compaction (e.g. pounding, crushing,grinding, pulverising, mulching, etc.), the tool can be a hammer 230. Inthe depicted embodiment, the processing section 232 of the hammer 230includes compaction units 234 for effecting a compaction operation. Inanother example, and as shown in FIG. 7, where the material processingoperation is abrasive in nature (e.g. scraping, abrading, polishing,etc.), the tool can be an abrasive brush 330. In the depictedembodiment, the processing section 332 of the brush 330 includesbristles 334 for effecting an abrasive operation. Similarly, where thematerial processing operation involves material removal (e.g. cutting,planing, chipping, etc.), the tool can be any appropriate type of blade.

Similarly, although shown and described herein as a brush cutter head,the material processing head 10 can include other moveable tool heads.For example, the head 10 can take the form of a linearly-displaceableplate or disc which is used to grind another material.

The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled inthe art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodimentsdescribed without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed.Still other modifications which fall within the scope of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of areview of this disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fallwithin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A displaceable material processing head,comprising: a support base; a plurality of tool mounting blocks mountedon an outer surface of the support base, each mounting block having abase surface and a tool mounting surface intersecting the base surface,the base surface having a protuberance extending away therefrom andspaced apart from the tool mounting surface to define a tool receivinggap between the protuberance and the tool mounting surface, the toolmounting surface extending past the protuberance, the protuberancehaving a rear surface facing the tool mounting surface across the toolreceiving gap and a front surface spaced apart forwardly from the rearsurface, the rear surface extending between opposed lateral sides andhaving a recessed portion between the lateral sides, the rear surfacebeing convex and the recessed portion spaced further rearward from thefront surface than the lateral sides; a tongue extending from the basesurface in the tool receiving gap, the protuberance extending past thetongue, the tongue extending from the rear surface of the protuberanceto the tool mounting surface, the tongue having an exposed surface; anda plurality of tools for material processing each retained in arespective one of the mounting blocks, each tool having a base sectionand a processing section extending from the base section, the basesection being snugly received in the tool receiving gap of therespective one of the mounting blocks between the tool mounting surfaceand the protuberance and on the exposed surface of the tongue, the basesection having a rear surface abutted to the tool mounting surface andhaving a shape complementary to the tool mounting surface, the basesection having a front surface being concave and abutted to the convexrear surface of the protuberance, the processing section extending pastthe protuberance.
 2. The material processing head as defined in claim 1,wherein the tool mounting surface is concave, and the rear surface ofthe base section is convex.
 3. The material processing head as definedin claim 1, wherein the tool mounting surface and the rear surface ofthe base section have a V-shaped profile.
 4. The material processinghead as defined in claim 1, wherein the support base includes arotatable cylindrical drum, the base surface of each mounting blockextending tangentially with respect to the outer surface of thecylindrical drum, and the tool mounting surface of each mounting blockextending radially with respect to the cylindrical drum.
 5. The materialprocessing head as defined in claim 1, wherein each mounting block isconnected to the base section of the corresponding one of the tools byat least one fastener, each fastener being spaced apart from theprotuberance.
 6. The material processing head as defined in claim 1,wherein at least one of the tools is a cutting tooth, the processingsection of said tool being a cutting section, the cutting section angledforwardly at an end of the base section and defining a cutting edge. 7.The material processing head as defined in claim 6, wherein the supportbase is rotatable, the cutting section of each cutting tooth having afront surface at the cutting edge oriented at a first angle relative toa radial line of the support base extending from the cutting edge, thefirst angle having a value of 45 degrees±5 degrees.
 8. The materialprocessing head as defined in claim 7, wherein the cutting edge of eachcutting tooth defines a cutting circumference upon rotation of thesupport base, the cutting section of each cutting tooth having a rearsurface at the cutting edge oriented at a second angle relative to thetangent to the cutting circumference at the cutting edge, the secondangle having a value of 8 degrees±5 degrees.
 9. A material processingtool assembly, comprising: a tool for material processing having a basesection and a processing section extending from the base section; and atool mounting block mountable on an outer surface of a support base, themounting block comprising a base surface and a tool mounting surfaceintersecting the base surface, the base surface having a protuberanceextending away therefrom and spaced apart from the tool mounting surfaceto define a tool receiving gap between the protuberance and the toolmounting surface, the tool mounting surface extending past theprotuberance, the protuberance having a rear surface facing the toolmounting surface across the tool receiving gap and the protuberancehaving a front surface spaced apart forwardly from the rear surface, therear surface extending between opposed lateral sides and having arecessed portion between the lateral sides, the rear surface beingconvex and the recessed portion spaced further rearward from the frontsurface than the lateral sides, a tongue extending from the base surfacein the tool receiving gap, the protuberance extending past the tongue,the tongue extending from the rear surface of the protuberance to thetool mounting surface, the base section of the tool being snuglyreceived in the tool receiving gap between the tool mounting surface andthe protuberance and on an exposed surface of the tongue, the basesection having a rear surface abutted to the tool mounting surface andhaving a shape complementary to the tool mounting surface, the basesection having a front surface being concave and abutted to the convexrear surface of the protuberance, the processing section of the toolextending past the protuberance.
 10. The assembly as defined in claim 9,wherein the tool mounting surface is concave, and the rear surface ofthe base section is convex.
 11. The assembly as defined in claim 9,wherein the tool mounting surface and the rear surface of the basesection have a V-shaped profile.
 12. The material processing head asdefined in claim 1, wherein the front surface of the protuberance has ashape being different than a shape of the rear surface of theprotuberance.
 13. The material processing head as defined in claim 12,wherein the front surface of the protuberance is linear.
 14. Thematerial processing head as defined in claim 1, wherein the base sectionof the tool is wider than the tongue.
 15. The material processing headas defined in claim 1, wherein the tongue is integral with theprotuberance and forms a monolithic component therewith.